>> THIS IS ABOUT VETERANS. I THINK THE COUNCIL SENT A STRONG MESSAGE. >> HE’S EXCITED TO KNOW IS THE COMMUNITY CAN EXPAND. HIS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HELPS DISABLED VETERANS AND FAMILIES LIVING MORE COMFORTABLE LIFE. THEY WANT TO BUILD A WELLNESS CENTER FOR THEIR RESIDENTS. IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING HAD TO CHANGE FROM A SUBURBAN MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT. THERE WERE MIXED REACTIONS ON THE PROPOSAL. >> IF YOU HAVE SOME OTHER REASON YOU’RE VOTING FOR THIS, THEN PLEASE TELL ME. THE COMMUNITY DON’T WANT ANY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. THERE’S VACANT PROPERTIES ALL AROUND. A NO VOTE OR EVEN A DEFERMENT OF THIS PROJECT SENDS A SPECIFIC MESSAGE TO REST OF THE COUNTRY WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT THIS IS NOT A MILITARY FRIENDLY CITY. REPORTER: COUNCILMAN JARED BROSSETT, WHO ORIGINALLY SUPPORTED THE MEASURE, DECIDED TO DEFER IT. >> THE DEVELOPER HAS TO DO A BETTER JOB AT DEVELOPING AND CULTIVATING NEIGHBORHOOD TIES . THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE ALL THIS TIME. REPORTER: -- >> THE ZONING DOCKET MOVES FORWARD. REPORTER: BUT THE REST OF THE COUNCIL VOTED FOR THE ZONING AND BASTIAN’S FOUNDER SAYS HE WELCOMES ANY RESIDENT CONCERNED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT TO COME TO HIM WITH ANY CONCERNS THEY MAY HAVE. >> WE’RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THE ASSET IS VIABLE FOR THE LONG TERM. SO COME ON, LET’S TALK. LET’S MAKE A

The New Orleans City Council approved a zoning measure for a Gentilly neighborhood organization Thursday that received mixed reactions from the public. The new zoning would turn a section of Mirabeau Avenue, where the Bastion veterans community is located, from a suburban, multifamily, residential district to a neighborhood business or commercial district. This would allow Bastion to develop a wellness center for its residents. The facility would be equipped with a gym, rehab clinic and yoga studio for its veterans. According to its website, Bastion Community of Resilience is an intentional community in which wounded, ill or injured veterans live alongside retired military and civilian volunteers. More than 100 families live on the property. Before the council voted for the measure, people for and against the zoning changes spoke in front of the council. Councilman Jared Brossett, who originally supported the development, wanted to defer the measure. He said recent petitions from residents in that area indicate a lack of "good relationship ties" between Bastion and the neighborhood. The Voscoville Neighborhood Watch Association released a statement after the zoning was approved. The association's president, Colette Delocroix, claimed Wednesday she was told by Brossett's office the measure was being deferred with no vote taken Thursday. Their full statement is below. Bastion's founder says he is open to hearing any concerns from the community about the project. Click on the video for more on this story. Voscoville Neighborhood Watch Association's statement:"The Voscoville Neighborhood Watch Association is extremely upset by the travesty that occurred at the City Council meeting today. We were informed by Councilman Brossett's office that Zoning Docket 60/19 was being deferred, with no vote today. We were told that the Councilman hoped that this deferral would allow the longtime homeowners of the area to negotiate a compromise with the Bastion Organization. Therefore, the group of residents who had planned on attending the meeting went to their jobs, families, and regular activities.With no notice, the docket was hijacked by Helena Moreno and pushed through for a vote.The vote was to help veterans. What we cannot figure out is why no one seems able to understand that this is not a vote for or against veterans. This is a zoning issue, taking the affordable housing that was originally promised by Bastion and replacing it with commercial storefronts. We are especially confused by this vote because we are in a neighborhood surrounded by commercial zones where available storefronts are within .4 miles of this site.As the child, the niece, the sibling, and the fiance of a veteran (deceased) I am not against veterans. I am for commercial zones being used to their fullest before other commercial zones take over the space that was supposed to be dedicated to affordable housing." - Colette Delacroix

NEW ORLEANS —

The New Orleans City Council approved a zoning measure for a Gentilly neighborhood organization Thursday that received mixed reactions from the public.

The new zoning would turn a section of Mirabeau Avenue, where the Bastion veterans community is located, from a suburban, multifamily, residential district to a neighborhood business or commercial district. This would allow Bastion to develop a wellness center for its residents. The facility would be equipped with a gym, rehab clinic and yoga studio for its veterans.

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According to its website, Bastion Community of Resilience is an intentional community in which wounded, ill or injured veterans live alongside retired military and civilian volunteers. More than 100 families live on the property.

Before the council voted for the measure, people for and against the zoning changes spoke in front of the council.

Councilman Jared Brossett, who originally supported the development, wanted to defer the measure. He said recent petitions from residents in that area indicate a lack of "good relationship ties" between Bastion and the neighborhood.

The Voscoville Neighborhood Watch Association released a statement after the zoning was approved. The association's president, Colette Delocroix, claimed Wednesday she was told by Brossett's office the measure was being deferred with no vote taken Thursday. Their full statement is below.

Bastion's founder says he is open to hearing any concerns from the community about the project. Click on the video for more on this story.

Voscoville Neighborhood Watch Association's statement:

"The Voscoville Neighborhood Watch Association is extremely upset by the travesty that occurred at the City Council meeting today.

We were informed by Councilman Brossett's office that Zoning Docket 60/19 was being deferred, with no vote today. We were told that the Councilman hoped that this deferral would allow the longtime homeowners of the area to negotiate a compromise with the Bastion Organization. Therefore, the group of residents who had planned on attending the meeting went to their jobs, families, and regular activities.

With no notice, the docket was hijacked by Helena Moreno and pushed through for a vote.

The vote was to help veterans.

What we cannot figure out is why no one seems able to understand that this is not a vote for or against veterans. This is a zoning issue, taking the affordable housing that was originally promised by Bastion and replacing it with commercial storefronts. We are especially confused by this vote because we are in a neighborhood surrounded by commercial zones where available storefronts are within .4 miles of this site.

As the child, the niece, the sibling, and the fiance of a veteran (deceased) I am not against veterans. I am for commercial zones being used to their fullest before other commercial zones take over the space that was supposed to be dedicated to affordable housing."